Win a birthday surprise

The Stockton Thunder not only badly needed a win, but also to shake things up a bit. Enter goalie Dan Tormey.

The Record

The Stockton Thunder not only badly needed a win, but also to shake things up a bit. Enter goalie Dan Tormey.

Tormey, making his professional debut, started in goal for Stockton in Sunday's game against the host Ontario Reign.

The gamble paid off, as Tormey recorded 26 saves for Stockton in a 4-3 victory at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Coincidentally, Tormey's first win for the Thunder came on his 26th birthday.

"He was basically thrust into that situation," Stockton coach Matt Thomas said of Tormey, a product of Minnesota State-Mankato who was on the ECHL's Toledo Walleye for two games last season but never played. "But he did a great job, and he turned back nine power plays."

The victory broke a three-game losing streak for the Thunder (28-19-9) - all to the Bakersfield Condors.

Chris Lawrence scored twice for Stockton, first on Kelly Czuy's assist in the first period, then the eventual game-winner on a power play with assists from Dan Ringwald and Ryan Constant 39 seconds into the third period.

The Thunder's Jordan Fulton scored unassisted in the first period, and Jordan Foreman found the net on Pierre-Andre Bureau's assist in the second period.

"Obviously we had a tough week, so it was nice to get a win," Thomas said.

Alex Bourret, Kyle Kraemer and Jordan Hill scored for the Reign.

Mike Zacharias had 34 saves for Ontario (20-32-6).

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